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been controlled by larger powers throughout its history. While for the overwhelming majority of
i
ts standing Sardinia has been treated as a colony by the Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and
the Spanish Aragonese, it was still able to preserve its independence, which many scholars
interpret, with great lenience, as a sign of defiance. However, it is the geographical features of
Sardinia that have given it the unique ability to self-preserve, or, in other words, to retain its
isolation while selectively absorbing the rich cultural heritage of the colonizing powers.
The strategic advantages of the island are quite impressive, as it is essentially midway
through North Africa and the mainland of Europe. D.H. Lawrence for instance, in his famous travel
book, Sea and Sardinia, describes the island as being “lost between Europe and Africa and
belonging nowhere” (103). Being the second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is large
enough to have ample natural resources, such as silver, lead, and coal. The island also hosts a
variety of different climates. Sardinia`s climate is best described as continental, and while the
land does have significant elevation (its highest peak is over 6,000 feet), it is also affected by the
proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Genoa, both that contribute to the formation of
cyclones that are tropical in nature and are responsible for Sardinia`s often extremely heavy
rainfalls. Although Sicily (only about 300 miles westward) is known for the powerful presence of
the volcanic Mount Etna, Sardinia is not earthquake-prone at all, yet still contains the allure of a
severe mountainous landscape, which makes it an even more preferable location. Its
location in
the Mediterranean has made Sardinia an important player in the trading commerce as well. While
Sardinia has never been a true trading destination, or a starting point, it has served in ancient
times as an important mid-station, a resting stop for the Phoenician trading vessels.